August 13, 1999 - Imagine Minnesota without a legal system. That was the case before 1849 when Minnesota, then a territory, had no judges, no courtrooms to settle disputes. But 150 years ago this month, that all changed as Minnesota's first justice Aaron Goodrich was sworn in near the banks of the Mississippi river in Stillwater. Goodrich's story and other accounts of the famous and infamous in Minnesota justice are chronicled in a new book, "For the Record: 150 years of law and lawyers in Minnesota". 250 legal enthusiasts dug into historical archives to piece together the history of Minnesota's legal profession.
August 16, 1999 - The Olympics are intended to embody the best a country has to offer. So it's not surprising the bribery scandal involving Salt Lake City has taken some of the luster off the upcoming summer games. But if that cynicism is left unchecked, 1972 Olympic swimmer John Naber, says the athletes will be the ones to suffer. In his new book, "Awakening the Olympian Within", Naber collected inspirational stories from 28 athletes who overcame odds to win Olympic gold or failed in their quest, but gained valuable life lessons. Nabor says the problem with this Olympics, is that no one wants to hear those stories just yet.
August 16, 1999 - A new survey indicates Minnesota companies received a record one-hundred-eight million dollars in venture capital funding in the second quarter of this year. Venture capital generally refers to investments in start-up firms that are not yet mature enough to seek funding in the stock market. However as Bill Catlin reports, Minnesota still lags in the share of venture capital it receives.
August 17, 1999 - Second District congressman David Minge and U of M Economist C. Ford Runge discuss proposals to help Minnesota farmers deal with their economic problems.
August 18, 1999 - The Advertising Council is sponsoring a series of public service announcements this evening urging parents to talk with their children about violence. We speak with Mary Lewis Grow, national coordinator of the Student Pledge Against Gun Violence; and Judy Ladd, past president of the American Middle School Counselor Association and currently on the president's expert panel for violence prevention.
August 18, 1999 - Call it an obsession. This morning book afficionados in Duluth are lining up outside the doors of the downtown public library for what has become an institution as well as a library fund-raiser: the annual book sale. They are prepared to mow people down or elbow them aside, all in the interests of finding the perfect cheap summer reading.
August 18, 1999 - Minnesota's community banks told U-S Senator Paul Wellstone in no uncertain terms today they want the farm crisis addressed because their own businesses are at stake.
August 19, 1999 - We talk to two St. Paul citizens who were on the ball bark tour in Denver, former DFL lawmaker Ray Faricy and Marla Gamble, jewelry designer and painter and treasurer of the St. Paul Art Collective, plus Minnesota Public Radio reporter William Wilcoxen who join us from Denver.
August 19, 1999 - Governor Jesse Ventura's speech on the state’s role in dealing with the farm crisis, held at the Minnesota Rural Summit in Duluth.
August 19, 1999 - Some Minnesotans are giving their two-cents worth to a stadium fund -- and not a penny more. Governor Jesse Ventura suggested the fund as a way for stadium backers to contribute all or part of their state sales-tax rebate to the cause. So far the response has been fairly mixed with some contributors expressing scorn for a publicly-financed stadium.... but the fund is slowly building up. Finance Director for the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission Roger Simonson is opening the mail.